Somalia's dubious rush to Russia for weapons amid Ukraine invasion

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Somalia's dubious rush to Russia for weapons amid Ukraine invasion

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – In a surprising move, war-torn Somalia has turned to Russia for an undisclosed request of weapons and ammunition, raising concerns among diplomatic circles, the Horn Observer has learnt.

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Somalia foreign minister Abshir Omar (left) signs a yet-to-be disclosed agreement with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Friday 26 May 2023.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – In a surprising move, war-torn Somalia has turned to Russia for an undisclosed request of weapons and ammunition, raising concerns among diplomatic circles, the Horn Observer has learnt.

The offer was made by Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, during talks with his Somali counterpart, Abshir Omar Jama, who is currently visiting Moscow.

Russia’s top diplomat expressed Moscow’s commitment to meet "the material needs of the Somali army in its fight against extremist groups”, including "al-Shabaab and al-Qaeda,” underscoring Russia’s growing interest in the African continent and its desire to outpace Western influence in conflict-ridden countries.

Somali Foreign Minister Abshir Omar took to Twitter on Friday, announcing his meeting with Mr. Lavrov and discussing ways to enhance cooperation between Somalia and Russia. He expressed enthusiasm for closer collaboration in various areas of mutual interest.

During the Moscow meeting, Sergey Lavrov also shared his concerns about what Russia considers the anti-Russian stance of the "collective West” and its use of the Kiev regime in unsuccessful attempts to strategically defeat Russia, according to a statement released by the Russian ministry of foreign affairs.

Deployment of Russian mercenaries

Diplomatic sources in Mogadishu revealed that the Somali foreign minister conveyed a message from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, appealing for Moscow’s support. President Mohamud urgently requested arms and weapons, citing the imminent threat posed by al-Shabaab and the government’s inadequate military capability to combat them effectively.

However, reports suggest that a potential deal is being discussed that would involve Russia persuading Somali authorities to allow the deployment of Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group. The fragmented nature of Somalia, divided along clan lines, has prompted concerns about the implications of such an arrangement. Currently, the Wagner Group operates in countries like the Central African Republic, Mali, Mozambique, and Libya. The group has been active in Vladamir Putin’s war in Ukraine.

It is worth noting that Somalia remains under a United Nations Security Council arms embargo imposed in 1992 to halt the flow of weapons to warring clan-based factions that toppled the former dictator, Siyad Barre, triggering a civil war.

Somalia’s relations with Russia have been strained since the country condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during a United Nations General Assembly session in March 2022. Nevertheless, diplomatic sources now suggest that Russia is actively seeking to build alliances and advance its agenda in African nations ahead of the upcoming Russia-Africa Summit scheduled for July this year in St. Petersburg.